Duplicating device



2 mm v March 1941- 72. s. DEMARE$T 'nurmcumg DEVICE Filed Sept. 7, 1939- Fame 51 Demurest ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating devices, and, more particularly, to the .preventing of smudging and/or offset printing of the sheets when wet.

When sheets of impression paper are fed through a duplicating machine, they are ejected onto a pile.While the ink used in the duplicating machine dries very rapidly, yet there remains on the surface of the sheet a certain amount of wet ink. This is especially true when hard finished papers are used and the ink is not readily absorbed by the paper but remains on the surface. This ink will cause an impression to be made on the back of the next succeeding sheet as it is deposited in the pile, or it will be caused to Smudge by movement of the next succeeding sheet onto the pile.

Many efforts have been made to overcomethese difficulties. In some instances, an operator, in addition to the one operating the machine, stands beside the receiving box and deposits a spacer sheet or slip sheet between the prints in the pile as they are fed from the duplieating machine.

Another method of slip-sheeting involves using a large book, such as a telephone directory, and disposing it so that when the pages are fanned during the duplicating operation, a page of the book falls between each sheet delivered by the duplicating machine.

These are purely manual means for accomplishing this result, and require highly skilled operators to efficiently perform this task. These operators, even though they may be expert, are, of course, limited in their speed due to the fact that the operator who is slip-sheeting must separate the slip sheet or the like from the stack and deposit it in the pile of duplicating sheets.

Efforts have been made to slip-sheet automatically as by locating a hopper with the slip sheets stacked therein above a receiving receptable and releasing a slip sheet for each operation of the duplicating machine.

Such devices have been impractical for the reason that they are limited in the number of slip sheets that can be accommodated by the hopper, thus necessitating frequent replenishing of the supply of slip sheets and also because they depend on the thickness of the slip sheets for proper feeding, and after the slip sheets are used several times their edges become frayed or thickened and cause the machine to fail to operate properly.

I have found that if a means is provided for separating the sheet and placing it in a position where it can be readily grasped by the operator, the process of slip-sheeting will be greatly improved and the use of experts to obtain satisfactory results will not be required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiautomatic machine which will feed the slip sheets to a position where they can be readily grasped by the operator and deposited in the stack of duplicating sheets with a minimum of effort,

This is accomplished by providing a. pile of slip sheets adjacent the receiving receptacle or box for the duplicating machine. The pile of slip sheets are supported on a table or cabinet and 15 held in position thereon and tensioned by a novel tensioning means. The sheets are released from the tensioning means by feeding means which engages the uppermost sheet of the pile to frictionally project the top sheet therefrom.

If the means for supporting the slip sheets is made in the form of a cabinet, as here illustrated, it can be used as a means for storing the slip sheets when not in use or an additional supply thereof.

The feeding means of present invention is driven in timed relation with the feeding means of the duplicating machine so that for each operation of the duplicating machine a single slip sheet will be projected into a position where it can be readily, grasped by the operator of the machine and placed in the receiving box for the duplicating sheets.

Since the device of the present invention automatically separates the slip sheets from the pile and presents them in a position to be grasped by the operator, a single operator can perform both the duplicating and the slip-sheeting at a very high rate of speed.

While in the preferred form of the invention the slip-sheeting is semiautomatic, in the broader aspects it can be made fully automatic by properly adjusting the throw of the feeding means.

Another feature of the invention resides in the removal of a portion of the slip sheet so that the duplicating sheets can be readily gripped 4 together through this portion and removed from interleaved relation therewith.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims when taken in connection with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a duplicating machine, with the attachment secured in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1. 55

sion to be made on a duplicating sheet l4 as it is fed through the printing position by the cylinder and cooperating presser roller (not shown) whenthe cylinder is rotated by means of a hand crank l5 secured to the shaft II or by a motor, now shown.

The means for feeding the duplicating sheets from a pile l4a to printing position is also driven by the crank l5, through gearing (not shown) and includes an eccentric I 6 which operates, through suitable link means H, a pusher member l8, once for each printing operation of the device.

The pile of duplicating sheets are positioned on the duplicating machine adjacent the impression cylinder as shown in Fig. 1, and are fed one by one from the top of the pile and into printing position by the member l8, and, after being printed, are ejected into a receiving receptacle H! where they are stacked in a pile.

The structure so far represents a conventional duplicating machine.

According to the present invention, a cabinet or table 20 is rigidly connected by means of brace members 2|, 22 to the frame of the duplicating .machine. These brace members can be permanently secured to the frame of the duplicating machine, or they can be provided with detachable connections so that the device may be applied either as an attachment to existing machines or as a permanent part of a new machine. These brace members properly position and hold the cabinet or table adjacent the end of the receptacle opposite the .impression roller, as is shown in Fig. 2.

The upper surface of the table or cabinet supports a pile of slip sheets 23 so that they will be disposed at a proper distance above the receptacle. The slip sheets may be of any desired material suitable for separating the adjacent duplicating sheets in the pile. Preferably, the sheets are thin and relatively stiff. The usual pile will, therefore, contain a large number of sheets so that the slip-sheeting operation will not be frequently interrupted to replenish the sup- P y. I

If the supporting means is in the form of a cabinet, the interior of the cabinet can be util zed to store the slip sheets when not in use or to store additional supplies of slip sheets as required.

In order to retain the slip sheets in position n he cabinet. a pair of vertical extending members 25. 26 having friction surfaces, are disposed, one at each side of the cabinet or table so as to engage the sides of the slip sheets in the pile as shown in Fig. 1.

In the preferred form of the invention, these members comprise a channel 21 having a filler of spon e rubber 28 or other friction material which extends into engagement with the edges of-the slip sheet. This properly positions the slip sheets on the cabinet and provides sufllcient drag to the sheets to prevent them from being accidentally dislodged therefrom, yet permitting the sheets to be projected from the pile, as will be hereinafter explained.

If desired, the drag on the pile may be controlled by having at least one of the vertical member for accomplishing this result.

According to the present invention, a feeding means is provided for automatically projecting the uppermost slip sheet of the pile to a position in which it can be readily grasped and placed in the receptacle after a duplicating sheet has I been located therein.

While this feeding means may take many forms, preferably it comprises a lever 32 pivoted to the casing and having at one end a tubular bearing 33 projecting therefrom and carrying a bail-shaped member 34 having a feeding element 35 of friction material at one end and a roller 36 on another portion thereof for controlling the position of the feeding element in its engagement with the slip sheets.

As illustrated, the feeding element comprises a clip 31 secured to the end of the bail member 34 and having a filler 33 of rubber or other suitable material providing a friction surface for engaging the sheet throughout its range of operation.

To insure the projection of a slip sheet for each feeding operation of the duplicating machine, the feeding means is driven in timed relation to the operation of the printing means. This is accomplished by means of a connecting rod 39 connected at one end to the lever 32 pivoted on the casing, and at its other end to the actuating link 40 of the link means I! for the duplicating paper feed of the duplicating ma chine. The connecting rod is secured in place by means of releasable connectors 4| so that it can be readily attached to or removed from existing machines as part of the attachment or can be removed when slip-sheeting is not desired.

The operation of the feeding element 35 is controlled in the following manner. A supporting plate 42 normally supports the roller 36 on the bail member 34, so as to hold the feeding element out of engagement with the slip sheets. As the pivoted lever is moved to its rearmost position, the roller leaves the table and the feeding member will drop by gravity into engagement with the top sheet of the slip sheet pile as is shown in dotted lines at 35a.

As the eccentric of the duplicating feeding mechanism is rotated, it will draw the pivoted lever forward and move the feeding element to the position indicated at 35b, thus causing the top slip sheet to be projected as shown in Fig. 2. At the end of the projecting movement, the roller will engage an inclined cam surface 43, and continued movement of the lever 32 will cause the roller to ride up the cam surface and lift the feeding member from engagement with the sheet, as shown at 350 in Fig. 2.

A suitable spring or yieldably mounted member 44 is secured to the support and permits the roller to pass in an upward direction, but guides the roller back to the table-like support as the pivoted arm moves rearwardly to its normal or original position.

A spring or buffer member 45 is disposed at the end of the cam to prevent the roller from being moved off of the cam surface, and insures that it will be returned to the support therefor.

Thus, when the eccentric is operated to cause the feeding means of the duplicating machine to move a sheet into printing relation, the slip sheet feeder will be moved through a feeding cycle and project a slip sheet at the proper moment to be grasped by the operator to be inserted in the receptacle.

. With the slip-sheeting device of the present invention, a single inexperienced operator can actuate the machine and position the slip sheets inasmuch as he operates the handle with onehand and grasps the projected sheet with the other so that he can insert the slip sheets as fast as he can turn the crank to print the sheet. The extent to which the sheet is projected can be controlled by securing the end of the connecting rod in one of the holes 46 in the pivoted lever.

When it is not desired to use the slip-sheeting mechanism, it is merely necessary todisconnect the end of the connecting rod from the link 40 of the duplicating feed mechanism and swing the bail rearwardly out of the way until it rests on stop 41 carried by the lever 32.

As will be noted in Fig. 1, the slip sheets have a portion 48 cut out therefrom. This portion can bethe corner, as illustrated, or can be a portion cutout from the front margin interme-.

diate the side edges. The cutout portion, wherever located, must be of sufllcient size to enable the duplicating sheets to be gripped therethrough without gripping the slip sheets whereby the ungripped slip sheets can be readily separated therefrom.

In the broader aspects of the invention, the projecting means for the slip sheet can be adjusted to completely eject the sheet for each sheet ejected from the duplicating machine. However, I prefer to use the semiautomatic operation inasmuch as the operator who is usually required to operate the duplicating machine can insert the slip sheets when necessary.

Variations and modifications maybe made within the scope of this invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. The method of interposing slip sheets with printed sheets which comprises automatically partially projecting slip sheets one by one into a position above and adjacent the receiving means of a duplicating machine during each operation of the duplicating machine and before the start of the next printing operation; gripping the projected sheet by the projecting portion; and manually removing it and placing it in the receiving means in interposed relation with the duplicating sheets ejected therefrom.

2. The method of interposing a slip sheet between printed duplicating sheets to separate the same, which comprises stacking a pile of slip sheets adjacent the receiving means of a duplicating machine; partially projecting the top sheet of the pile during each operation of the duplicating machine and before the beginning of the next printing operation into a position to'be grasped by an operator; manually removing the projected sheet from the pile by gripping the projected portion; and depositing the slip sheet in the receiving means for the duplicating sheets after the duplicating sheet has been placed therein and before the next duplicating sheet is fed to the receiving means.

3. The method of slip-sheeting which comprises stacking a pile of slip sheets adjacent the receiving means of a duplicating machine; projecting a top sheet partially beyond the edge of the pile to form a gripping portion during each operation of the duplicating machine and before the next printing operation; manually removing projected portion; and depositing it in interleaved relation with the duplicating sheets in the receiving means.

4. The method of slip-sheeting which comprises stacking a pile of slip sheets adjacent the receiving means of a duplicating machine; feeding the top sheet of the pile during each operation of the duplicating machine and before the start of the next printing operation so that a part of the sheet projects beyond the edge of the pile to form a gripping portion; manually removing the sheet from the pile by gripping the projected portion; and depositing it in the receiving means after the duplicating sheet has been placed therein.

5. A duplicating machine comprising printing means; means located at one side of the printing means for feeding duplicating sheets thereto; means located at the other side of the printing means for receiving printed sheets ejected therefrom; means positioned adjacent the receiving means for supporting a pile of slip sheets; and means for partially projecting the slip sheets one by one into a position in which the projected portion may be grasped and the sheet manually inserted in the receiving means between adjacent duplicating sheets, said slip sheet projecting means and duplicating sheet feeding means being driven from a common means whereby a slip sheet is projected for each duplicating sheet fed into the printing means.

6. A duplicating machine comprising printing means; means located at one side of the printing means for feeding duplicating sheets thereto; means located at the other side of the printing means for receiving printed sheets ejected therefrom; means positioned adjacent the receiving means for supporting the pile of slip sheets; and means for projecting the slip sheets one by one into a position in which the projecting edge may be grasped and the sheet inserted in the receiving means between adjacent duplicating sheets, said means comprising a pivoted lever having a. bail member'mounted thereon and carrying a feeding element for frictionally engaging the top slip sheet and a roller, and a cam engaged by the roller for lifting the feeding element out of engagement with the slip sheet at the.end of the projecting operation, said pivoted lever being driven in timed relation with the duplicating sheet feeding means whereby a slip sheet is projected for each duplicating sheet fed into the printing means.

7. A slip-sheeting device for-use with a duplicating machine having means for ejecting a printed sheet and means for receiving the ejected sheet, including supporting means for a pile of slip sheets; rigid brackets for the supporting means having one end secured to the duplicating machine to hold the support means in predetermined relation with the means for receiving the ejected'sheet; friction feeding means carried by the slip sheet supporting means for engaging the top slip sheet of the pile; and means connecting the slip sheet feeding means with the ejecting means of the duplicating machine so as to project the top slip sheet partially above the receiving means whereby an operator can grasp it and deposit it in the receiving means between the ejected sheets.

.8. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine having an impression cylinder, feeding means for feeding duplicating sheets unthe sheet from the pile through gripping of the a der the impression cylinder and duplicating sheet receiving means for receiving the sheets after passing under the impression cylinder, including a cabinet for supporting a pile of slip sheets; brackets secured to the duplicating machine to hold the cabinet rigidly in a predetermined relation with the duplicating machine adjacent the duplicating sheet-receiving means; feeding means carried by the cabinet including a friction member for engaging the top sheet of the pile and partially projecting said sheet beyond the edge of the pile in position to be grasped by the operator; means for controlling the extent of engagement of said member with said sheet; and means connecting the slip sheet feeding means with the feeding means of the duplicating machine for operation thereby, whereby it projects a sheet from the pile for each duplicating sheet fed from the duplicating machine.

9. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplie cating machine having means for printing and ejecting feeding duplicating sheets and means for receiving the printed sheets including supporting means for a pile of slip sheet; brackets for the supporting means having one end secured to the duplicating machine to hold the support means in rigid relation with the duplicating machine adjacent but above the duplicating sheet-receiving means; feeding means carried by the slip sheet supporting means; and means connecting the slip sheet feeding means with the duplicating ma-,

chine, whereby the feeding means partially projects a slip sheet above the receiving means for each operation of the printing means whereby an operator can grasp it and deposit it in the receiving means between each successive duplica-ting sheet.

10. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine having an impression cylinder, feeding means for feeding duplicating sheets and duplicating sheet-receiving means, including supporting means for a pile of slip sheets; brackets connected to the supporting means and having one end secured to the duplicating machine to hold the support means in rigid relation with the duplicating machine adjacent the duplicating sheet-receiving means; feeding means carried by the slip sheet supporting means; and means connecting the slip sheet feeding means with the feeding means for the duplicating sheets, whereby the feeding means partially projects a slip sheet above the duplicating sheet-receiving means so that an operator can grasp it and deposit it in the receiving means between each successive duplicating sheet. I

11. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine, comprising a cabinet for supporting a pile of slip sheets; means on the cabinet for releasably holding the slip sheets in the pile; brackets for rigidly holding the cabinet in predetermined relation with the duplicating machine; feeding means carried by the cabinet for frictionally feeding the top sheet of the pile into a partially projected position in which it may be readily grasped by the operator; and means for driving the feeding means from the duplicating machine in timed relation to the opera-tion thereof, whereby a slip sheet is projected for each operation of the duplicating machine.

12. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine, comprising a stationary supporting means for a pile of slip sheets; a pair of posts on the supporting means for frictionally engaging the side edges of the slip sheets in the pile, one of said posts being adjustably mounted for movement toward or away from the other to vary the frictional grip on the pile; brackets for rigidly holding the supporting means in predetermined relation with the duplicating machine; feeding means carried by the supporting means for frictionally feeding the top sheet of the pile into a partially projected.

position in which it may be readily grasped by theoperator, and means for driving the feeding means from the duplicating machine in timed relation to the operation thereof whereby a sheet is projected for each operation of the duplicating machine.

13. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine comprising a stationary cabinet for supporting a pile of slip sheets; means on the cabinet for guiding and frictionally holding the slip sheets in the pile; brackets for rigidly holding the cabinet in predetermined relation with the duplicating machine; feeding means carried by the cabinet for overcoming the friction holding means and moving the top sheet of the pile into a partially projected position in which it may be readily grasped by an operator;'means for. driving the feeding means from the duplicating machine in timed relation to the operation thereof to project .a slip sheet for each operation of the duplicating machine; and means for moving the feeding means out of engagement with the slip sheet at the end of the projecting operation whereby the slip sheet is free to be gripped and removed from the pile for insertion. 14. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine, comprising supporting means for a pile of slip sheets; feeding means driven by the duplicating machine for projecting sheets from the pile including a lever pivoted to the supporting means and carrying a [bail member having a feeding element thereon and a roller; 8. plate carried by the supporting means for engaging the roller to normally hold the feeding element out of engagement with the pile; initial movement of the lever from its original position during feeding operation moving the roller rearwardly and from the plate whereby the feeding element falls by gravity into engagement with the upper surface of the pile, then forwardly to project the top sheet from the pile; cam means carried by the supporting means in the path of the forward movement of the roller to engage the roller at the end of the projecting period and raise the feeding element out of engagement with the sheet and move the roller above the level of the plate; and means for'guiding the roller from the cam means to the plate upon movement of the lever to the original position.

15. A slip-sheeting device for use with a duplicating machine, comprising supporting means for a pile of slip sheets; feeding means driven by the duplicating machine for projecting sheets from the pile including a lever pivoted to the supporting means and carrying above the pile a feeding element, said feeding element having a roller connected thereto; means for engaging and normally supporting the roller to hold the feeding element out of engagement with the pile; initial movement of the lever from original position during feeding operation; releasing the roller whereby the feeding element falls by gravroller in engagement with the means normally the next printing operation, whereby the projected edge of said sheet may be grasped by an operator; manually removing the projected sheet from the pile by gripping the projected portion; and depositing the slip sheet in the receiving means for the duplicating sheets after the duplicating sheet has been placed therein and before the next duplicating sheet is fed to the receiving means.

RUSSELL S. DEMAREST. 

